Machine for feeding coupons, labels, and the like



JUY 2, 1929 Y c. LITTLEFIELD 1,718,968

MACHINE FOR FEEDING COUPONS, LABLS, ND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 8, 1928 5sheets-sheet ll July 2, 1929. C, LITTLEFlELD 1,718,968

MACHINE FOR FEEDING COUPONS, LABELS, AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 8, 1928 5Sheets-Sheet 2 July 2, 1929. c. 1 |'|'T1..EFIELD 1,718,968

MACHINEYFOR FEEDING COUPONS, LABELS, AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 8, 1928 5SheetSSheet 3 A TTORNE V5' July 2, 1929n c. LxTTLEr-IELD MACHINE FORFEEDINC JOUPONS, LABELS, AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 5, 1928 5 SheebS-Shevkl4 July 2,4 1929. c. LITTLEHELD MACHINE FOR FEEDING COUPONS, LABELS, ANDTHE LIKE Filed Feb. 8, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES CARL LITTLEFIELIJ, F BATTLE CREEK,

MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO BATTLE CREEK BREAD WRAPPING MACHINE COMPANY,BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING COUPONS, LABELS, AND THE LIKE. l

Application filed February ln the accompanying drawings l haveillustrated my improvements as l have embodied them for use inconnection with a wrapping machine for feeding coupons or inserts inproper relation to the wrapper.

My improvements are, however, desirable and readily embodied for use infeeding labels or coupons in other relations. `While in thisspecification l have for convenience l0 used the word coupon, it will beunderstood that this is intended to include labels or sheets, broadlyconsidered.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved machine of the character described inwhich coupons are effectively fed or delivered one by one.

Second, to provide a machine of this character which requires littleattention beyond the matter of maintaining a supply of coupons in amagazine.

Third, to provide a machine of the character described in which the feedis positive and the parts are strong and durable and not likely to get.out of repair.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention willdefinitely appear from the description to follow. The invention isdefined in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my 30 invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a:fragmentary perspective view `of a structure embodying the :features ofmy invention, portions of a bread wrapping machine being shown inoperative relation thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view.

Fig. B is a fragmentary front elevation..

Fig. a is a fragmentary vertical section on a line corresponding` toline ls-4 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2 showingdetails of the feed conveyor. l

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section on a line correspondingl to line 66 of Figs. 2 and 7 showing details of the structural mechanism.

Fig. is a detail section on a line corresponding to line 7--7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section on line 8-8 of Fig. 2 showing detailsyoi `the lost motion driving connection for the coupon feed finger toits shaft.

55 Fig. 9 is a detail fragmentary plan view 8,1928. serial No. 252,753.

illustrating the delivery relation of the coupon to the wrapping paper.i

Fig. 10 is a detailview partially in section on line 10u10 of Fig. 1,illustrating details of the adjusting mechanism.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents one of the longitudinal sills orframe members of a wrapping machine, 2 the feed conveyor thereof and 3one of the end flap folders. The coupon :feeding mechanism is, in thisembodiment, mounted on the side of the mam frame of the wrapping machineso that the coupon, as et, is delivered between the wrapping sheet 5 andthe article to be wrapped, 6, see Figs. l and 9, as the article ispushed upwardly from the feed conveyor 2 by means of an elevator, nothere illustrated. i

I have illustrated only7 such portions of the wrapping machine as Iconsider desirable in showing the relation of a coupon feeding machineto such wrapping machine. The structure of this application is, however,built as a separate unit to be mounted on the main frame ofthe `wrappingmachine.

In the embodiment illustrated I provide a supporting frame `7 adaptedfor attachment to the wrapping machine frame, the outer ends of thissupporting frame being further supported by a brace 8. The parallel rods9 are supported at their outer ends by these frame members?" and attheir inner ends by the wrapping machine frame members 10.

The operating mechanism is mounted on side plates 11 and 12. These sideplates are connected by a cross piece 13 at the rear and the cross rodlet at the Afront and have bearing portions 15 and 16 slidable on therods 9.

Reversely threaded screws 17 and18 are journaled in these side membersto adjustably support the maga-Zine side members 19 which are verticallyslotted at 20 so that they, in effect, comprise apluralityof spacedvertical bars connected by top and bottom crosspieces and havingupwardly projecting arms 21 `provide-d with internally threaded sleeve22 .coacting with the reversely threaded screw 17 and rearwardlyprojecting arm 23 provided with internally threaded sleeves 24: coactingwith the reversely threaded screw 18. i

The screw 17 is provided with a handwheel 25 at one end and a sprocketwheel 26 at the other, this sprocket wheel 26 being connected by thesprocket chain 27` to a -32 at its lower end secured to the rods.

the lateral adjustment'of the side members to vary the width of themagazine.

The magazine bottom isheld yieldingly upward bythe coiled springs 36secured at 37 'to the side plates 11 and 12, and at their lower .ends tothe lower ends of the slide rods. *The magazine bottom is thus movedupward as the'coupons are removed from the top'L of the stack ofcouponsindicated at 38. 'L

The side members 19 are provided with couponengaging bars 39 againstwhich the coupons. arethrust by the bottom member. The magazine bottomhas a longltudinal groove 4 0in its face.

The feed shaft 41is` disposed transversely above the `stack of couponsand this carries an varm 42 vron which the feed finger 43 is pivotallymounted, the pivot 44 being at the outer'e'nd of the arm. The finger A43has a rearward extension 45 to which is connected a spring 46 wherebythe finger is held under spring tension. Arubber tip or grip 47 at theouter "end of the finger 43 is adapted tobe swung into engagement withthe top coupon as the feed shaft revolves, engaging the coupon anddelivering Vit to the feed conveyor, tov be hereinafter described.

-"The'.arm 42 is'provided with a sleeve 48 having a disk-likeenlargement 49 at one end i. which is adjustably secured to a drivingmember 50 by means ofthe segmental slot 51 in thedriving member andv ascrew 52 arranged through the slot to engage the partV v49,*see Figs. 2'andi 8. The driving member 50`has a lost motionconnection to the shaft41 and is secured thereto by a pin 53 engaging the holesr 54 in thedriving member. The holes are of such size as to permit limited;movement of the driving member yrelative 'to theshaft, the object ofthis'being ythat when `the coupon which is being advanced by the feedfinger is engaged by the feed conveyor, the coupon is notJ torn althoughthe speed of the feed con- .Y veyor may exceed somewhat the speed of thefeed'finger, thus avoiding the tearing of theY coupons and minimizing'the wear' on the friction tip ofthe feed finger.

Tofurther minimize this wear in the event of the coupons becomingexhausted and the machine being allowed to continue in operation, Imount an antifriction roller 55 on the magazine bottom positioned in thegroove 40 so that, as the feed finger revolves, it comes into contactwith this roller instead of a fixed part. The periphery of the roller 55is slightly below the face of the bottom.

To prevent more than one coupon being fed at a time, I provide a holdingneedle 56 which is carried by an adjustable holder 57 supported on theslide rod 58 and the adjusting screw 59, the rod and screw being carriedby an arm 6() projecting from the side plate l2. The holding needle isalined willi the slot or groove 40.

By means of the adjusting screw the holding needle is adjusted so thatit engages the coupon near the edge thereof, the coupon beingsuccessively pushed olf the needle as they are fed by the feed linger.The operation of the feed finger is controlled by the articles beingwrapped as they are advanced into the machine by means of the feedconveyor.

In the structure illustrated this is aecomplished by a rockshaft 61disposed transn versely below the feed conveyor, see Fig'. l, andprovided with a trip 62 which projects upwardly in the path of thearticles as they are carried along by the flights of the conveyor. Onthe outer end of this rockshaft is an arm 63 connected by the link 64 toa clutch control dog 65 positioned to coat-t with a pawl-like clutchmember 66 mounted on a driven clutch member 67 lixed to the shaft 68.The driving clutch member 69 has a tooth 70 with which the driven clutchmember engages under the tension of the spring 71 when released.

The trip dog is held in engaging position by means of the coiled spring72. lVhen the trip 62 is engaged by an article carried along by the feedconve or, the trip dog 65 is moved to release the diiven clutch member66 so that it is engaged by the driving clutch member 69 thereby drivingthe shaft 68. This shaft 68 is provided with a beveled gear 73 splinedto the shaft 68 as indicated in Fig. 2. The gear 73 meshes with a gear74 on the shaft 41. Y

The coupons are delivered by the feed fingers to a feed conveyor bywhich they are delivered into operative relation to the article beingwrapped and the wrap )er. This feed conveyor comprises pairs of eedrollers 75, 76 and 77, 78 and a plurality of conveyor belts 79 formed ofcoiled springs. The feed rollers are grooved to receive these coiledspring belts, the groove being of such depth that the belts aresubstantially llush with the surfaces of the rollers so that theperipheries of the front pair of rollers grasp the coupons as they aredelivered from the magazine by the feed linger. The belts carry thecoupons along between their opltltl lltl llfi

posed reaches and the coupons are ejected by the rear pair of conveyorrollers. j

The rollers 75 and 76 are connected by gears 8O while the rollers 77 and78 are connected by corresponding gears 8l. One of the front rollers isdriven from al pinion 82 meshing with a gear 83 on the shaft zll so thatthe feed conveyor is driven `in unison with the feed finger. The roller7 5 is urged against the roller' 76 by means of the springs 84. i

The roller 77 is carried by arms 85 pivoted at 86 and having adownwardly projecting arm 87 yieldingly supported by the spring 8S. Thisspring 88 is mounted on a rod having a spring thrust member S9 thereonrotatable to regulate the `tension of the spring.

The wrapping machine illustrated is provided with adjustable parts 90for adapting it to articles of different sizes, the adjustment of thepart 90 being effected from the screw 91. These parts, however, are notdetailed. This adjustable part is connected by the link 92 tothe supportl5 of the cou ponfeed means which is slidable on the rods so that as themachine `is adjusted to different sized articles to be wrapped thecoupon feed means is simultaneously adjusted. j

As the loaf is carried to wrapping position it travels past the frontplate or guard 93. Occasionally loaves having lip-like projections atthe top resulting from overproofing might strike this plate resulting inpushing or tipping the loaf out of proper Wrapping position.

To provide for further adjustment of the machine the support l5 isadjustably connected to the link 92 by means of the screw '94, the linkbeing provided with a pair of spaced ears 95 in which the screw isrotatably mounted, the screw having threaded engagement with aprojecting lug 96 on the support or bearing l5.

My improved coupon feed `means is very efficient, that "is, iteffectively feeds the coupons one at a time, requires little attentionand is not likely to become clogged.

I have illustrated and described the structure as embodied for use inbread wrapping machines. I have not attempted to illus trate or describevarious other modifications or adaptations which I contemplate as Ibelieve this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embodyor adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a magazinecomprising a vertically movable bottom having a longitudinal groove initsfaee and a plurality of spaced lateral projections, means acting tourge said bottom yieldingly upward, opposed adjustable side membersvertically slotted to receive said lateral projectionsiof said bottom,said side members being pro vided with horizontal bars engaging the topof a stack of coupons, a holding needle alined with said groove in saidbottom and adapted to engage coupons adjacent the rear edges thereof,means for supporting said needle for adjustment longitudinally of saidmaga zine, a feed shaft, an arm on said shaft, a feed finger pivotallymounted on said arm and provided with a friction tip, a spring foryieldingly supporting said feed linger, and a roller mounted within saidgroove in said magazine bottom with its top slightly below the face ofthe bottom to receive the stroke of said feed linger when the magazineis exhausted.

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a magazinecomprising a vertically movable bottom having a longitudinal groove inits face and a plurality of spaced lateral project-ions, means acting tourge said bottom yieldingly upward, op posed adjustable side membersvertically slotted to receive said lateral projections of said bottom,said side `members being provided with horizontal bars engaging the topof a stack of coupons, a holding needle alined with said groove in saidbottom and adapted to engage coupons adjacent the rear edges thereof,means for supporting said needle for adj ust-ment longitudinally of saidmagazine, a feed shaft, an arm on said shaft, a feed finger pivotallymounted on said arm and provided with a friction tip, and a spring foryieldingly support-ing said feed finger.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a magazinecomprising a vertically movable bottom having a plurality of spacedlateral projections, a spring acting to urge said bottom yieldinglyupward, opposed adjustable side members vertically slotted to receivesaid lateral projections of saidbottom, said side members being providedwith horizontal bars engaging the top of a stack of coupons, a feedshaft, an arm on said shaft, a feed linger pivote ally mounted on saidarm and provided with a friction tip, a spring for yieldingly supeporting said feed finger, and a roller mounted on said magazine bottomwith its top slightly below the face of the bottom to receive the strokeof said feed iingerwhen the magazine is exhausted. j

4l. In a structure of the class described,

`the combination of a magazine comprising a vertically movable bottomhaving a plui rality of spaced lateral j nfojections, a spring acting tourge said bottom yieldingly upward, opposed adjust-able side membersvertically slotted to receive said lateral projections of 4said bottom,said side members being provided with horizontal bars engaging the topofa stack of coupons, a feed shaft, an arm on saidshaft, aY feedtiiiger`pi\f*otally mounted onrsaid arm and provided with a frictiontip, and a spring for yieldingly supporting said feed finger.

f 5. In a structure of the-class described, th

combination of a magazine comprising a vertically movable bottom havinga longifeed eonveyorto which thecoupons arevdelivered by said feedmember.

6. In a structureof the class described, the combinationof a magazinecomprising a vertically movable bottom having a longitudinal grooveinvits face, 'means acting to urge said bottom yieldingly upward, horizontal members engaging thel top of a stack of coupons adjacent theirlongitudinal edges, a holding needle alined with said groove insaidbottom and adapted to en- `gage coupons adjacent the rear edgesthereof, means for supporting said needle 'for ad-4` Hjustment'longitudinally of said magazine,

and a rotating feed member 'adapted to engage the top coupon of a stackof coupons in said magazine as it rotates. 'Y

7. In a structure of tlieclass described, the combination' of a magazinecomprising a vertically movable bottom having Va longitudinal groove inits face, means acting to urge said bottoinyieldingly upward, horizontalmembers engaging the top ofa stack of coupons adjacent theirlongitudinal edges, holding needley alined with said groove, in saidbottom and-adapted to engage coupons adjacent the rear edges thereof,

means for supporting said needle for adjustment longitudinally of saidmagazine, a rotating feed member adapted to engage the ltopzcoupon of astack of coupons inv said magazine as it rotates, and a roller mountedwithin said groove in said magazine bottom in opposed relation to saidfeed member to be engaged by the same when the magazine is exhausted. i

In a structure kof the class described,

`the combination of a magazine comprising a vertically movable bottom,means acting to urge-said bottom yieldingly upward, hoiizontal membersengaging the top of a vstack of coupons adjacent theirlongitudinaledges, a `rotating feed member adapted to engage the topcoupon of a stack of coupons in said magazine as it rotates, said feedmember having a lost motion connection to its driving means, and a feedconveyor to which the coupons are delivered by said feed member.

9. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a magazinecomprising a vertically movable bottom, means acting to urge saidbottoni yieldingly upward, horizontal members engaging the top of astack of coupons adjacent their longitudinal edges, a rotating feedmember adapted to engage the top coupon of a stack ot coupons in saidmagazine as it rotates, and a roller mounted on said magazine bottom inopposed relation to said feed member to be engaged by the same when themagazine is exhausted.

l0. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a magazinecomprising a vertically movable bottom having nv plurality of spacedlateral projections, means acting to urge said bottom yicldingly upward,opposed adjustable side members vertically slotted to receive thelateral projections of said bottom, horizontal members engaging the topof a stack of coupons adjacent their longitudinal edges carried by saidside members, and a feed member adapted to engage the top coupon of astack.

11. In a structure of the'class described, the combination of a magazinecomprising a vertically movable bottom, means acting to urge said bottomyieldingly upward, hoi'izontal members engaging the top of a stack ofcoupons adjacent their longitudinal edges, a rotating feed member havinga lost motion connection to its driving means, and a feed conveyor towhich the coupons are delivered by said feed member.

l2. Iii a structure of the class described, Ythe combination of amagazine comprising a vertically movable bottom, means acting to uigesaid bottom yieldingly upward, horizoiital members engaging the top of astack of coupons adjacent their longitudinal edges, a rotating feedmember, and a roller carried bysaid bottom andpositioned to receive thestroke of said member when the magazine is exhausted.

13. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a magazinecomprising a bottom having a longitudinal groove in its face,longitudinal members engaging the top of a stack of coupons adjacenttheir longitudinal edges, a holding needle aliued with said groove insaid bottom and adapted to piercingly engage a plurality of couponsadjacent the rear edges thereof, means for supporting said needle forhorizontal adjustment, and a feed means successive] y engaging thecoupons to remove the same Afrom the magazine at the front of saidneedle.

14. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a magazinecomprising a bottom, longitudinal members engaging the top of a stack ofcoupons adjacent their longitudinal edges, a holding needle adapted topiercingly engage a plurality of coupons adjacent the rear edgesthereof, and feed means successively engaging the coupons to remove thesame from the magazine at the front of said needle.

l5. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a magazinecomprising a bottom having a longitudinal groove in its face, a holdingneedle alined With said groove in said bottom and adapted to piercinglyengage a plurality of coupons adjacent the front edges thereof, meansfor supporting said needle for horizontal adjustment, and a feed meanssuccessively engaging the coupons to remove the same from the magazineat the rear of said needle.

1G. In a structure of the class described, the combination of amagazine, means for delivering coupons therefrom oneA by one comprisinga rotating feed member having a lost motion connection with its drivingmeans, a feed conveyor comprising coacting pairs of feed rollers, thepairs of feed rollers being gearedtogether and having op aosedperipheral grooves therein, one pair o said feed rollers beingpositioned to receive the coupons as delivered from said magazine bysaid feed member, a plurality of endless coiled spring belts arranged insaid grooves of said feed rollers and in opposed relation so thatadjacent reaches thereof travel in coacting relation to carry a couponfrom one pair of feed rollers to the other, and means for driving one ofsaid feed rollers.

17. In a-structure of the class described, the combination of amagazine, means for delivering` Hcoupons therefrom one by one comprisinga rotating feed member having a lost motion connection With its drivingmeans, a feed conveyor comprising coacting pairs of feed rollers, onepair of said feed rollers being positioned to receive the coupons asdelivered from said magazine by said feed member, and a plurality ofendless coiled spring belts arranged in said grooves of said feedrollers and in opposed relation so that adjacent reaches thereof travelin coacting relation to carry a coupon from one pair of feed rollers tothe other.

1S. In a structure of the class described, the combination with aWrapping mechanism including an adjustable Wrapping elcment, of a couponfeeding mechanism operatively associated With the Wrapping mechanism, asupport on Which said coupon feeding mechanism is slidably mounted, anda connection for said coupon feeding mechanism to said folder elementwhereby the coupon feeding mechanism is simultaneously adjusted withsaid folder element.

19. In a structure of the class described, the combination With aWrapping mechanism including an adjustable Wrapping element, of a couponfeeding mechanism operatively associated With the Wrapping mechanism, asupport on which said coupon feeding mechanism is slidably mounted, aconnection for said coupon feeding mechanism to said folder elementwhereby the coupon feeding mechanism is simultaneously adjusted withsaid folder element, and means for adjusting said coupon feedingmechanism independent of said connection adjustment.

20. In a structure of the class described, the combination with aWrapping mechanism of a coupon feeding mechanism opera tively associatedwith said Wrapping mechanism, a support on which said coupon feedingmechanism is slidably mounted, and an adjusting means for said couponfeeding mechanism.

2l. In a structure of the class described, the combination With aWrapping mechanism of a coupon feeding mechanism operatively associatedWith said Wrapping mechanism, and means for adjusting said couponfeeding mechanism relative to said Wrapping mechanism.

22. In a structure of the class described, the combination with aWrapping mechanism including an adjustable Wrapping element, of a couponfeeding mechanism slidably mounted for adjustment to and from saidWrapping mechanism, a link connection for said coupon feeding mechanismto said adjustable Wrapping element, and an adjustable threadedconnection for said Wrapping mechanism to said link.

23. In a structure of the class described, the combination of laWrapping mechanism, a vertically reciprocating article feed plunger, acoupon feeding mechanism mounted for sliding adjustment to and from saidWrapping mechanism and provided with a guide plate disposed at the sideof the path of said article feed plunger, and means for adjusting saidfeed mechanism laterally of the path of said plunger. Y

24. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a Wrappingmechanism, a coupon feeding mechanism adjustably supported relative tosaid Wrappingmechanism, and means for adjustin 0 said coupon feedingmechanism.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CARL LITTLEFIELD.

